AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Nest Box Use by Cavity-nesting Birds

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1983
Authors:Willner, GR, J. Gates, E, Devlin, WJ
Journal:American Midland Naturalist
Volume:109
Issue:1
Date Published:1983
ISBN Number:00030031
Keywords:Baeolophus, Baeolophus bicolor, Hirundinidae, Hirundo, Hirundo rustica, Paridae, Parus, Parus bicolor, Passer, Passer domesticus, Passeridae, Sialia, Sialia sialis, Tachycineta, Tachycineta bicolor, Troglodytes, Troglodytes aedon, Troglodytes troglodytes, Troglodytidae, Turdidae
Abstract:Nest boxes were investigated for use by cavity-nesting birds at the Carey Run Sanctuary, Garrett Co., Maryland. These boxes provided nesting sites for the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis), house wren (Troglodytes aedon) and tree swallow (Iridoprocne bicolor). Boxes at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Prince Georges Co., Maryland, provided sites for the eastern bluebird, house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and tufted titmouse (Parus bicolor). Twenty-four box and habitat variables were measured at each location. Six variables were used in discriminant function analysis to segregate the boxes used by the three bird species at Carey Run. Bluebirds tended to use boxes where herb height was less than at boxes used by house wrens or tree swallows. Distance to nearest tree, sapling and shrub, and distance and dbh of the nearest tree in front of the box were least at boxes used by house wrens and greatest at tree swallow boxes. Bluebird boxes were intermediate. A discriminant function model developed for Carey Run was used to classify nest boxes at Beltsville. About 81% of the eastern bluebird nest boxes, the species common to both sites, were classified correctly at Beltsville. Use of nest boxes by the eastern bluebird can be enhanced by placing them in the correct habitat configuration. Discriminant function analysis could be a useful management tool for evaluating nest box locations prior to undertaking an extensive nest box program.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/2425530
Short Title:American Midland Naturalist
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith